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al., 2017). Death is a chapter of life and human decay is a part of that natural process. According to Harris, the body releases its organic nutrients into the soil. The microorganisms and bugs continue to nourish the ground, while also "aerating the dirt, loosening compacted earth and thereby creating fertile ground for vegetation" (Harris, 2007). Another study from 2012, reported that besides providing nutrients to the soil, “the great potential for conservation burial is to conserve land, create open space, and restore natural habitats” (Harker, 2012). The environmental impact of traditional burials and cremation is substantial and studies show that green burial has little to no ecological repercussions. A 2018 study previously mentioned gathered that "natural burial stands as the most conscientious alternative on the spectrum of ecological sensitivity" (Coutts, et al., 2018). Kelly writes that green burial also reconnects us to the earth; a now distant relationship (Kelly, 2015). Although the movement was very much ignited from the concerns over the scarcity of land and the contaminants connected with conventional burial practices, it was also ignited by this desire for "ecological return and connection" we hold to the earth as humans. Humans are separate from nature but are also integrally a part of nature (Feagan, 2007). Green Cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis, also known as bio cremation, water resonation, or flameless cremation technology uses water blended with an alkali solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH)” (“Understanding Green Cremation, 2019; Fournier, 2018). The process uses lye, heat, and water to disintegrate a human body into liquid and some residual bone (Fournier, 2018). Placed in a stainless steel cylinder, the body creates a liquid that can be safely sent down the drain, and the bone remains are “ground into a powder and given to the loved ones, like regular cremation” (Fournier, 2018). GREEN BURIAL: THE LAST FOOTPRINT 19 The lower temperatures help lessen carbon emissions because almost zero air emissions are sent into the atmosphere during the alkaline hydrolysis process (“Understanding Green Cremation, 2019; Fournier, 2018). Because any clothing will be absorbed during, specific clothing is required like silk, wool, or leather during the process (“Understanding Green Cremation, 2019). Green/Natural Cemeteries. The literature organizes green cemeteries into three types: hybrid, natural, and conservation. The Green Burial Council has established standards and these cemeteries are defined by the level “to which they conserve natural resources and preserve the environment”(“The Three Different Types Of Green Cemeteries”, 2020). A 2017 study mentions the ecological benefits of green cemeteries and how they can be used for healing "natural habitat and woodlands, and animal grazing" (Michel, et al., 2017). Linking back to the research of traditional cemeteries and their negative impact on flora and fauna, mentioned earlier. This is in comparison to a traditional cemetery that cannot be used for reviving natural environments because of the pesticides and chemicals used to maintain it nor can the soil be reused or recycled (Michel, et al., 2017). Hybrid. A traditional cemetery that “allows for burial without an outer burial container (burial vault or grave liner) and allows for burial in any type of container, including a shroud” (“The Three Different Types Of Green Cemeteries”, 2020). Another recent study from 2018 published that hybrid cemeteries that merge natural burial with traditional graves may produce a bigger impact in "delivering regulatory and cultural ecosystem services than the much larger and frequently more environmentally ambitious natural burial grounds" (Clayden, et al., 2018). This specific study reports that hybrid cemeteries can help shift traditional graveyards towards a more GREEN BURIAL: THE LAST FOOTPRINT 20 "habitat rich" landscape and will " help support soil formation, reduce the use of pesticides, and N2O emissions" (Clayden, et al., 2018). Natural. Natural cemeteries are grounds committed to sustainable methods that save energy, minimize waste, and do not allow the use of toxic chemicals. This includes “any part of a vault (lid, slab, or partitioned liner), markers, and burial containers made of anything other than natural or plant-derived elements” (“Green Burial Characteristics”, 2020). They also do not allow for bodies to be buried that have been “embalmed with toxic chemicals and prohibits” (“The Three Different Types Of Green Cemeteries”, 2020). Natural burial grounds must also be pesticide-free and any pests must be managed using natural practices “that maintain the natural ecology and landscape” (“The Three Different Types Of Green Cemeteries”, 2020). Conservation. A natural cemetery that is in cooperation with a conservation organization. The land is protected by this organization and includes sustainable management practices while also “restoring and protecting the ecological integrity of the land (“Green Burial Characteristics”, 2020). Burials and Cemeteries: Current Societal Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors To understand human decay and decomposition is to understand the human linkage to the earth and in doing so, accepting that death is a part of the circle of life. Traditional burials were developed around the idea of preserving the body when in reality,
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